Amid ethics probe, John Fresolo resigns from House

Wednesday

May 22, 2013 at 1:00 PMMay 22, 2013 at 3:58 PM

By John J. Monahan TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

State Rep. John P. Fresolo, D-Worcester, has resigned from the House of Representatives as part of a negotiated agreement with House officials in the wake of a wide-ranging Ethics Committee investigation that ended earlier this week.

In an interview Wednesday, Mr. Fresolo said he submitted his resignation as representative for the 16th Worcester district, effective at 5 p.m. Wednesday. He said he decided to quit his elected office mid-term in his 15th year of representing the district after concluding that he could no longer be effective.

"Regretfully, I submitted my resignation today from the House of Representatives," Mr. Fresolo told the Telegram & Gazette. "I am resigning because I am not currently effective, and I do not see that changing in the short run, and the people of my district need effective representation. Because of that I have decided to step down at this time."

The eight-term legislator said that because of rules on the handling of ethics investigations, he is unable to disclose details of the investigation that was launched in March by House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo. The probe began after a legislative staffer lodged a series of complaints involving what the speaker called "serious violations" of House ethical standards.

After an initial investigation by the House counsel determined the allegations had merit, Mr. DeLeo ordered a full investigation by the Ethics Committee, which was granted special subpoena powers for the probe. The committee conducted four days of hearings behind closed doors over the last two weeks.

House officials have not publicly detailed the alleged misconduct. However, sources have confirmed that Mr. Fresolo's per diem travel expenses were being probed and that the investigation involves multiple other alleged ethical breaches by a member of the House.

Mr. Fresolo, 48, said his resignation came after negotiations with the Ethics Committee that came at the end of those hearings and that he submitted his letter of resignation Wednesday morning.

"The investigation under the House Rules is confidential," Mr. Fresolo said. "I never intentionally violated House rules as a member, so I am not going to violate them by commenting," on the investigation.

House Rules provide for public reports on the committee's findings and possible public hearings before the entire House on any penalties or sanctions the committee may have recommended.

Mr. Fresolo said he had done his best for his district over many years.

"I put my heart and soul in this job. I really cared a lot for the people I represented. I went to work every day trying to make their lives better," said Mr. Fresolo, who was born and raised in the Vernon Hill section of the city. He was unopposed for re-election in 2012 and 2010.

"I did not want to just fill a seat," he said of the decision, acknowledging that he was pressured by the committee to step down.

"There was pressure to do this," Mr. Fresolo said. "I said that I was determined to fight, and I did try to fight as long as I could. It's different now. I have been marginalized. I wouldn't say I was treated fairly, but it's a process, and I went through it and I am glad I did."